Whilst pubs are closing left right and centre, the drug and prostitution sectors appear to be in good health - and growing dramatically!
The Office of National Statistics have reported that consumers in the UK spend more on illegal drugs and prostitution than on beer and wine. Well, not in our village (to the best of my knowledge).
They say that £12.3 billion was spent on drugs and prostitution - but only £11 billion on Beer and Wine. So HMG gather billions in tax and duty from B & W but naff all from D &P (both D & P being recorded as miscellaneous goods and services, presumably!!)
I wonder if HMG are going to introduce as many laws for D & P as they have for B & W, and then ensure that the tax revenue grows from such activities? I doubt it, myself. Much easier to go on persecuting the poor old publican!
We run courses on Drug Awareness and preventing same, but not got into a course on prostitution yet. However, good to see there are some growth industries in the UK!
Has the world gone mad?
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Training
Showing posts with label tax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tax. Show all posts
Friday, 3 October 2014
Friday, 24 January 2014
Campaigning To Stop Further UK Pub Closures
The time is coming that "something" really needs to happen!
We have lost around ten thousand pubs in recent years, and if we are not careful we will lose many more in the not too distant future. There is of course lots going on to try and fight off the demise of our treasured pub institution, but frankly all of the effort in the world, other than getting more people to use pubs more often, will come to nought unless 'pub-going' gets back into fashion.
Government is also now realising that if more people stay at home drinking and purchasing alcohol in supermarkets there is a loss in revenue terms to the exchequer, this along with the social impact and high street demise. Pubs are important, stupid.
So what part does "the cost of going to the pub" play in the greater scheme of things? I think "more and more" is the answer.
I have blogged before on my 'hobby-horse' about our culture of 'round-buying', and I continue to believe that it is detrimental to our industry. I hear many people say that they avoid certain pubs at certain times because they know they will get involved in a round-buying group where a round can cost £20 or more. For those who want to go on doing it "fine", but let us create a culture where it is perfectly acceptable for those who want to "buy their own" to not be considered as skinflints or social pariahs!
Onto the VAT disparity twixt supermarkets and pubs. It is outrageous that supermarkets pay no VAT on food when pubs pay (and therefore you dear pub customer) 20%.
The argument is simple: Reduce VAT for pubs – more people will visit, spend more money, create more jobs, regenerate high streets, generate more revenue for HMG. The battle is joined and growing in influence. Want to know more? Take a view: www.vatclubjacquesborrel.co.uk
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
We have lost around ten thousand pubs in recent years, and if we are not careful we will lose many more in the not too distant future. There is of course lots going on to try and fight off the demise of our treasured pub institution, but frankly all of the effort in the world, other than getting more people to use pubs more often, will come to nought unless 'pub-going' gets back into fashion.
Government is also now realising that if more people stay at home drinking and purchasing alcohol in supermarkets there is a loss in revenue terms to the exchequer, this along with the social impact and high street demise. Pubs are important, stupid.
So what part does "the cost of going to the pub" play in the greater scheme of things? I think "more and more" is the answer.
I have blogged before on my 'hobby-horse' about our culture of 'round-buying', and I continue to believe that it is detrimental to our industry. I hear many people say that they avoid certain pubs at certain times because they know they will get involved in a round-buying group where a round can cost £20 or more. For those who want to go on doing it "fine", but let us create a culture where it is perfectly acceptable for those who want to "buy their own" to not be considered as skinflints or social pariahs!
Onto the VAT disparity twixt supermarkets and pubs. It is outrageous that supermarkets pay no VAT on food when pubs pay (and therefore you dear pub customer) 20%.
The argument is simple: Reduce VAT for pubs – more people will visit, spend more money, create more jobs, regenerate high streets, generate more revenue for HMG. The battle is joined and growing in influence. Want to know more? Take a view: www.vatclubjacquesborrel.co.uk
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
Monday, 1 July 2013
7.5% VAT Cut In Pubs and Restaurants for 'Tax Parity Day'
Jacques Borel, the 'VAT cut' campaigner has recruited some heavyweight players to join his "National day of Action" where pubs, restaurants et al will reduce their prices by 7.5% to show just what happens with such a reduction. In France when this was trailed, sales grew by some 8% on the day of action.
His campaign is to persuade government to reduce VAT from 20% to 5%, thereby giving tax parity compared to supermarkets for the 'on–trade'. His claim is that such a reduction would mean more growth, sales and employment within our sector. The 7.5% reduction on the day of action is the impact that it is estimated would result from the desired VAT cut to 5%.
Tim Martin the hero of JD Wetherspoon commented "We wholeheartedly support this initiative for Tax Parity Day, we are aiming to make it our busiest day of the year".
Says Jacque "Creating Tax parity between pubs, Restaurants and supermarkets will fulfil many government objectives. It will create jobs, and will raise the amount of taxes the government receives, since pubs and restaurants pay more taxes and create more jobs than supermarkets. It’s a win–win situation for government, voters and our industry".
Many say he is swimming against the tide. Well, many people also said that the chancellor wouldn't stop the Duty Escalator. But he did, didn’t he!
Who knows, with so many of the top players supporting Jacque, he could well work a miracle. Who else is supporting this? Well, catch a load of these top names; Heineken, Brains, Sheperd Neame, Punch, Charles Wells, Pizza Hut, Subway and Roadchef!
Look out for it in your local. September 25th is the date – book a table! And good luck say we.
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
His campaign is to persuade government to reduce VAT from 20% to 5%, thereby giving tax parity compared to supermarkets for the 'on–trade'. His claim is that such a reduction would mean more growth, sales and employment within our sector. The 7.5% reduction on the day of action is the impact that it is estimated would result from the desired VAT cut to 5%.
Tim Martin the hero of JD Wetherspoon commented "We wholeheartedly support this initiative for Tax Parity Day, we are aiming to make it our busiest day of the year".
Says Jacque "Creating Tax parity between pubs, Restaurants and supermarkets will fulfil many government objectives. It will create jobs, and will raise the amount of taxes the government receives, since pubs and restaurants pay more taxes and create more jobs than supermarkets. It’s a win–win situation for government, voters and our industry".
Many say he is swimming against the tide. Well, many people also said that the chancellor wouldn't stop the Duty Escalator. But he did, didn’t he!
Who knows, with so many of the top players supporting Jacque, he could well work a miracle. Who else is supporting this? Well, catch a load of these top names; Heineken, Brains, Sheperd Neame, Punch, Charles Wells, Pizza Hut, Subway and Roadchef!
Look out for it in your local. September 25th is the date – book a table! And good luck say we.
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
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